France will start stopping small boats in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible method to disable the engines of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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